Civil Rights

  • Keys v. Carolina Coach

    Keys v. Carolina Coach
    Sarah Keys Evans refused to give up her seat on a state-to-state charter bus, prompting the landmark court case, Sarah Keys v. Carolina Coach Company, in which the Interstate Commerce Commission outlawed the segregation of Black passengers in buses traveling across state lines. The case highlighted concerns regarding equal access and treatment for all passengers regardless of race.
  • Emmett Till’s Murder

    Emmett Till’s Murder
    Grew up in a working-class neighborhood on the south side of Chicago, and though he had attended a segregated elementary school when he left his mother warned him to take care because of his race.He was 14 years old African American youth who was abducted and lynched in Mississippi after being accused of offending a white woman.when he died her mom decided to have an open-casket funeral so that all the world could see what racist murderers had done to her only son.
  • Founding of the Southern Christian

    Founding of the Southern Christian
    Was formed to coordinate and support nonviolent direct action as a means of combating racial segregation and discrimination.With the goal of redeeming “the soul of America” through nonviolent resistance, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference was established in 1957 to coordinate the action of local protest groups throughout the South.Under the leadership of Martin Luther King, Jr., the organization drew on the power and independence of black churches to support its activities.
  • Little Rock nine crisis

    Little Rock nine crisis
    Nine African American students known as the little Rock nine enrolled at central high schools in little Rock, Arkansas. Their attempt to attend school faced immediate backlash from white segregationists and local authorities. On their first day of classes, governor Orval Faubus deployed national guard troops to block their entry into the school under orders aimed at maintaining ''public order".
  • Civil Rights Act of 1957

    Civil Rights Act of 1957
    Was a landmark piece of legislation aimed at addressing racial discrimination and protecting the voting rights of African Americans. It marked the first civil rights law passed in the United States since Reconstruction. The Civil Rights Act of 1957 authorized the prosecution for those who violated the right to vote for United States citizens.
  • Greensboro Sit-In

    Greensboro Sit-In
    Was a Civil rights protest,when young African American students staged a sit-in at a segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter in Greensboro,NC,and refused to leave after being denied service.The sit-in movement soon spread to college towns throughout the South.Though many of the protesters were arrested for trespassing,disorderly conduct or disturbing the peace,their actions made an immediate and lasting impact,forcing Woolworth’s and other establishments to change their segregationist policies.
  • Freedom Rides

    Freedom Rides
    Groups of white and African American civil rights activists who participated in Freedom Rides, bus trips through the American South, to protest segregated bus terminals. Freedom Riders tried to use “whites-only” restrooms and lunch counters at bus stations in Alabama, South Carolina and other Southern states.The groups were confronted by arresting police officers as well as horrific violence from white protesters along their routes but also drew international attention to the civil rights.
  • March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom

    March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom
    Was a massive protest march that occurred. When some 250,000 people gathered in front of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. Also known as the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, the event aimed to draw attention to continuing challenges and inequalities faced by African Americans a century after emancipation. It was also the occasion of Martin Luther King Jr.’s now iconic “I Have a Dream” speech.
  • Assassination of Malcolm X

    Assassination of Malcolm X
    He was an influential civil rights Alexander and advocated for black empowerment in the United States. He was shot multiple times while delivering a speech on the Audubon Ballroom in New York City. His death marked a significant loss to those who looked up to him as a powerful voice for racial equality and justice.
  • Fair Housing Act

    Fair Housing Act
    prohibited discrimination concerning the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, religion, national origin or sex. Intended as a follow-up to the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the bill was the subject of a contentious debate in the Senate, but was passed quickly by the House of Representatives in the days after the assassination of civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. The Fair Housing Act stands as the final great legislative achievement of the civil rights era.
  • Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools

    Swann vs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
    Was a landmark Supreme Court case that addressed the issue of school desegregation in the United States, particularly focusing on busing as a means to achieve racial integration. This case set important precedents regarding how far States must go in ensuring integrated schooling and highlighted ongoing challenges related to race relations and educational equity in America.
  • Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign

    Shirley Chisholm’s Presidential Campaign
    She became the first African American woman to seek a major party nomination for president on the United States. Running on a platform that emphasized social justice, civil rights, and women's equality, she aimed to address issues such as poverty, education reform, and healthcare.
  • Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record

    Hank Aaron’s Home Run Record
    His record is a significant milestone in Major League Baseball. on April 8, 1974, Hank Aaron hit his 715th career home run while playing for the Atlanta Braves against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Fulton County Stadium. This achievement broke Babe Ruth's long standing record of 714 home runs. Ultimately finishing with a total of 755 home runs over his illustrious career before retiring in 1976.
  • Barbara Jordan’s Address at the Democratic National Convention

    Barbara Jordan’s Address at the Democratic National Convention
    She delivered a powerful keynote address, marking her as one of the first African Women to do so, In her speech, she emphasized themes of unity and democracy while calling for social justice and civil rights. She also reflected on America's values, stressing that true democracy requires accountability from leaders and active involvement from its people. Her eloquent delivery underscored both hope for progress and commitment to addressing issues as inequality, making it an iconic moment.
  • University of California Regents vs. Bakke

    University of California Regents vs. Bakke
    Was a landmark Supreme Court decision that addressed affirmative action in college admissions. Allan Bake a 35 year-old white man, had twice applied for admission to the University of California Medical School at Davis. He was rejected both times. Bakke's applications were rejected. Bakke contended, first in the California courts, then in the Supreme Court, that he was excluded from admission solely on the basis of race.